A federal lawsuit is seeking to block a controversial UFC fight card scheduled for the White House South Lawn, an event timed to coincide with Donald Trump’s 80th birthday and the nation’s 250th anniversary celebrations.
Filed on Saturday by the Public Integrity Project on behalf of two Virginia residents, the legal challenge contends the Trump administration’s authorization of the June 14 event was unlawful.
The suit alleges violations of National Park Service regulations, which prohibit sporting events on federal parklands, and claims Congress did not consent to a towering arch planned for the space. Furthermore, it states that no environmental review was conducted before construction began.
Brendan Ballou, a lawyer representing the plaintiffs, asserted the core motivation behind the legal action. “This is fundamentally a private, commercial, corrupt use of our most sacred national monuments for private gain,” he stated. “And that is what is motivating this lawsuit.”
In response, the White House issued a statement dismissing the legal challenge as “an obstructionist, baseless, and dilatory” attempt to prevent Trump from hosting the fight.
It maintained the event was “no different than the various other White House-hosted events on the South Lawn and properly permitted events on the Ellipse and National Mall throughout the year.” UFC did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Sunday.
Crews are currently erecting an octagon-shaped cage on the South Lawn.
Trump has previously indicated the completed project would feature “a 5,000-seat arena right outside the front door of the White House.” Additional large screens are slated for a nearby park at the Ellipse, with UFC planning to distribute up to 85,000 free tickets for spectators across both locations.
This elaborate setup marks the latest undertaking in a series of construction projects at the White House under Trump’s direction.
